Document AnalysisA primary source is a first-hand account of a person, event, or idea.
Primary sources provide the "evidence" from which historians construct
their explanation of the past. In order to evaluate their evidence and
to organize it in a meaningful way, historians consider the perspective
or "bias" of the author, the content and tone of the source, and the political,
economic, social, and cultural milieu of the period.

Analyzing a document involves asking the "five Ws" -- who? what? where?
when? why? -- and using these answers to explain its significance to the
history of the period.

1. Who wrote the document? What is the author's "bias"?
Who is the intended audience?
2. What type of document is it (e.g., personal letter,
official report, diary entry)? What is the topic (subject) and thesis
(what the author says about the subject) of the document?
3. Where was the document written? Is this place the subject
of the document? What importance does the setting have to understanding
the document?
4. When was the document written? What was the historical
context for the document (i.e., what was going on at the time which might
have influenced the author's opinions?)
5. Why was the document written? The purpose may be stated in
the document itself or it may have to be inferred by reading between the
lines (Is it, for instance, an attempt to justify/explain the author's
behavior?). Is the document credible (believable); why or why not?

These five questions should help you evaluate the document and explain
its significance to our historical understanding. What does the document
reveal about European society, politics, economics, or culture of the time?
What does the document mean to us in 2000?

Begin your examination of the source by answering the questions above.
Much of the contextual material can be found in Perry's Western Civilization.
Once you have answered each individual question, consider how these answers
fit together, and synthesize your findings into one to two summary paragraphs
for your journal. Make sure your journal entries include the author and
title of each excerpt. You may want to combine entries dealing with
the same topic.

Document PresentationThe presentation measures your ability to explain historical sources
and arguments to others and to involve your classmates in meaningful discussions
of our Western past. Each student will have 5-10 minutes to present
his/her document to the class. You may use handouts or overhead transparencies
to illustrate your points.

1. Introduce yourself and the document(s) to the class;
e.g., "My name is Jane Smith, and I'll be looking at three excerpts describing
conditions in the first factories of Industrial Britain."
2. Cover all the topics raised by the questions above.
3. Speak loudly, clearly, and enthusiastically.
4. Try to involve your classmates in the discussion.
5. Use note cards or an outline. DO NOT read directly
from a script.

You will receive two grades for your presentation: one for content and
the other for format.